Confidentiality

University Health and Counseling Services are committed to providing confidential medical and behavioral health care to Northeastern University students.

Confidentiality and Privacy

The University Health & Counseling Services (UHCS) will keep all records and communications confidential to the fullest extent of the law. Please be aware of the following exceptions that apply to all medical and behavioral health treatment.

If a clinician has reason to believe that there is imminent danger of serious harm to yourself or others, they may share information and take appropriate steps to prevent harm.

If a clinician has reason to believe that a child under the age of eighteen (18), an elderly person (60 or over), or a disabled person is being abused or neglected, they are obligated to report this situation to the appropriate state agency.

A court may subpoena medical and mental health records.

Request a release of your information

If you would like UHCS to share your health records or communicate any information about your care, you must first complete a Release of Medical Records form. This form acknowledges that you give UHCS permission to release your information to the identified party (i.e., another health care provider, a parent, a staff member at Northeastern).

When you have completed the Release of Medical Records form, please return it to UHCS in one of the following ways:

Please allow AT LEAST TWO (2) WEEKS to process the request. If there is an urgent need for medical records, please call us at 617-373-2772

Ongoing communications with an identified party

Release of Medical Records form must contain the date or date range for which records are being requested. The requested date or date range may not extend past the date on which the request is signed.

It is important that all sections and questions on the form be completed in full.

Please note that UHCS provides two different release forms

to release records from UHCS

to release records to UHCS

Students at times request to sign a “blanket authorization” allowing a medical or behavioral health provider the ability to speak with someone such a parent or an advisor on an ongoing basis about their treatment. Federal law prohibits us from fulfilling such requests; UHCS providers can instead work directly with the student to complete a Release of Medical Records form that specifically identifies the type of information to be shared and reflecting a specific date of treatment.

Confidentiality and Billing

While the majority of services at UHCS are covered by the student health fee, some services are billed to the student’s insurance. These services including blood work, testing, etc. In such cases, we do release information to your insurance company according to any agreements you have signed when accepting your insurance plan.

Confidentiality and Email

Please be aware that email communication is not considered confidential as it can be intercepted in transmission or misdirected. Rather than emailing a provider, please communicate any sensitive information by telephone. Also, please note that any email communication sent to a provider may become part of the student’s medical record.

Please do not email UHCS about matters needing urgent attention. The UHCS mailbox is not consistently monitored.